In February 2012, The BBS Ensemble completed a massively successful run of
INTO THE WOODS
In May 2012, The BBS Ensemble will present
A play by William Inge
SUMMER BRAVE
“The re-written and final version of the romantic comedy PICNIC”
Black Box Studios debuted it’s first “Ensemble” season in 2011-12, with a full-scale production of the Broadway hit Into The Woods, by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, to be presented for six performances between February 2nd through 12th at The JCT. Artistic Director Matt Okin directs, with Musical/Vocal Direction by Mea Moon, Set/Costume/Lighting Design by Rebecca Lopkin, Choreography by Giselle D’Souza, and Stage Management by Dan Viola.
Download the poster! .pdf
“With this initial production of the BBS Ensemble, the company begins its long-term endeavor to bring a new kind of cutting-edge regional theater to Bergen County. Throughout the first few seasons, BBS has focused on performing arts education and both past and current shows have reflected (or soon will) the unique and often astonishing accomplishments of student performers at all levels of experience, ages five to adult. All of this continues while the new Ensemble’s full-scale version of Into The Woods brings together a hand-picked cast of local adult and teen actors along with select NY-based rising professionals — a collaborative group that Black Box Studios will keep together and slowly-but-surely grow to produce other well-known musicals or plays, as well as develop original works for the stage.” - Matt Okin, Artistic Director
Photography above by Michael Laves
Into The Woods CAST & CREATIVE
William Kanai’i Adriance (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf) Born and raised in Hawaii, William is a professional Polynesian dancer and Maori Fire Performer. Known as “Kanai’i the Polynesian Prince of Fire” he has performed extensively throughout the east coast, Nova Scotia, and the Tri-state area. He would like to thank Mea Moon and Matt Okin for this opportunity.
Giselle D’Souza (Cinderella) is a NYC-based professional actress, director, choreographer, and teaching artist. Her credits include national tours, children’s theater, original off-Broadway runs and premieres, regional theater, and independent films. She received her musical theater training from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and her BFA from The New School. Giselle is Black Box Studios’ resident choreographer and is currently directing or co-directing numerous productions. She recently appeared on stage in both
It’s A Bird It’s A Plane It’s Superman! and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Danny Hoffman (Baker) is an Actor, Teacher, Director, and drummer with Black Box Studios. Into the Woods will be his fifth show (fourth musical) with BBS. Previous shows include Sweeny Todd (Anthony), and It’s A Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman (Max Mencken). He graduated from Yeshiva University in 2010 with a degree in Drama. He was and still is active in the Yeshiva College Dramatic Society, where he acted in eight shows, including Of Mice and Men (Lenny), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Val), and Newsies (Jack). He has also appeared in numerous short films and one feature-length film.
Sarah Hogan-DePaul (Rapunzel) graduated from Rider University in 2010, with a BFA in Theatre, is excited to be joining this wonderful family here at Black Box Studios. Some previous credits include The Fairy in the Mirror in Ash Girl, Professor Taylor in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Sarah in God, Satan & Sarah, Jan in Grease just to name a few. Sarah would like to thank all the support she has received from her family and friends over the years and sends her best wish to the rest of her fellow cast and crew members.
Leora Hyman (Little Red Riding Hood) is a veteran of the Black Box stage. Through Black Box Studios, she has appeared in 1776, Zombie Prom, Little Shop of Horrors and Pippin. She can currently be seen in Bye Bye Birdie and has performed in The Crucible and Beauty and the Beast. Leora is excited to be a member of Black Box’s first Ensemble production.
June Mandeville (Cinderella’s Mother/Giant) This is June’s fourth show with Black Box and she is thrilled to be back. June has received advanced training at the New Jersey School for the Dramatic Arts in Bloomfield and in her native England. She is a founding member of Scene 2 productions and participated in many productions and drama festivals all over the UK. She is currently at work on a web series for Good Intentions Films and has acted in several student films. Most recently she performed in The Garage Theater Group’s production of Alan Aykbourne’s Table Manners in the part of “Ruth.” June is the proud mother of Rachel and David and is lucky enough to have the best husband in the world.
Josh Kammerman (Narrator/Mysterious Man) has been involved with theater and music projects for many years. He has written a number of children’s musicals, including KNIP, A Space Fantasy which was produced in Teaneck a few years ago. He played Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank in a traveling theater company in upstate NY, and most recently played Sweeney in the Black Box production of Sweeney Todd. Josh is a member of the Cumberland Avenue Band, a group of local musicians into acoustic rock and bluegrass music.
Talya Kornbluth (Lucinda) is an 8th grader at The Moriah School of Englewood. She has always had passion for singing and acting. Into the Woods is her 5th show with Black Box Studios. Her many diverse roles include Madame Thernardier in Les Miserables and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. She is also currently starring in the Moriah School production as Danny Zuko in the musical, Grease. She would like to thank Matt and everyone else at Black Box.
Nachi Lederer (Jack) has performed in many musicals, including: Alice in Wonderland (Mouse, Card, Clock), H.M.S. Pinafore (Sailor), Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King), South Pacific (Emile de Becque), South Pacific (Lieutenant Cable), Cinderella (Prince Charming), Beauty and the Beast (Beast), OLIVER! (Noah Claypole, orphan, thief, company), Les Miserables (Jean ValJean), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello, Radio announcer, Wino, Customer, Skip Snip…), Zombie Prom (Eddie Flagrante, Toffee’s Father, Joey, Jake), and 1776 (Edward Rutledge). Nachi has also been in the plays: The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bert Jefferson), Fools (Leon Steponovich Tolchinsky). He will soon be appearing in Torah Academy of Bergen County’s drama club production of No Time For Sergeants. Nachi would like to thank Matt Okin and the rest of his Ensemble cast-mates!
Rebecca Lopkin (Witch) is an Artistic Designer, an actress and a director working in both New York and New Jersey. She is a teaching artist with Lincoln Center Theater, LeAp and American Globe Theater, and designs lighting and scenery for many local theatre companies and schools. Rebecca is a graduate of New York University’s program in Educational Theatre where she received her BS and MA. Some recent acting credits include: Mary, Mary as Tiffany and Love Letters as Melissa (Teaneck New Theatre), And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little as Catherine (Black Box) and Fiddler on the Roof as Yente (Harlequin Players). She is also a stage mom to her three kids, and wife to husband, Benjy, of eleven years.
Sarah Medved (Cinderella’s Stepmother) is a Masters candidate in the Educational Theatre and English program at NYU Steinhardt. A native of Seattle, Washington, she received her B.A. in English Literature and Judaic Studies from Stern College for Women and an M.A. in Jewish Philosophy from Bernard Revel Graduate School. She has varied experience as a director, actor, and singer. Previous roles include Nattie in Made Up, Renee in The Odd Couple, and Count Rugen in The Princess Bride, as well as numerous vocal performances.
Ryan Oliveti (Steward/Granny)- is currently a senior at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ where he studies Elementary Education and Theatre. Ryan has been seen on stage in The Importance of Being Earnest (Lane) and off-stage in many different technical possitions including Stage Manager, Assistant Director, Scenic/Lighting/Sound Designer, and Props Master for shows ranging from See What I Wanna See to The Laramie Project. Many thanks to the Black Box community for welcoming me with open arms, my amazing family for seeing every show from first grade on, and my stunning friends who inspire me to be better each and every day.
Beth Selter (Jack’s Mother) is a veteran actor, singer & cabaret artist has spent the past 15 years directing youth theater in several middle/high schools in the New York/New Jersey area as well as for the NJY camps at Camp Nesher. While not in the director’s chair, Beth develops and performs her own one-woman musicals with her long time accompanist and coach, Mr. Rob LaRocco, which she performs in various venues in the New York area. Beth also offers private vocal lessons and musical theater coaching in her home town of Wesley Hills, NY. Although theater is her passion, Beth’s most rewarding accomplishments and greatest inspiration lie in her 5 wonderful children and her husband, Joel. Beth is thrilled to be a part of the Black Box Ensemble and looks forward to many successful productions with this fabulous group.
Yaffa Stone (Florinda) has appeared in many productions such as Bye Bye Birdie (Rose Alvarez), Beauty and the Beast (Lefou) and Les Miserables (Fantine). She has also been seen in The Crucible (Betty Paris), Zombie Prom (Ms. Strict) and The Man Who Came to Dinner (Lorraine Sheldon) and is currently rehearsing for The Miracle Worker (James Keller). Yaffa has been working with Black Box Studios for three years and is honored to be participating in this production of Into the Woods.
Lisa Tiger (Baker’s Wife) studied theater at Brandeis University and HB Studios. She performed in school and community theaters from the time she was child through her young adult life. After taking a 16 year hiatus from theater to pursue a career in physical therapy and start a family, she returned to the stage with Black Box Studios in the Spring of 2010. She appeared in And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little as Anna, Blood Wedding as Mother and Sweeney Todd as Miss Lovett. Lisa would like to thank her boys Steve and Jake for their love and support.
Dan Viola (Rapunzel’s Prince/Wolf) received his undergrad at Rider University in Fine Arts, Theatre, and is continuing work as a Teaching Assistant at the McCarter Theatre Center and as a Stage Manager for BBS. A Bergen County local, he returns to the stage from recent backstage endeavors as Stage Manager, Director, and Light/Sound/Projection Designer for productions such as Laramie Project, New Brain, Urinetown, Midsummer, See What I Wanna See, Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and many more.
See Staff page for the Creative Team bios
Matt Okin- Director
Mea Moon- Musical/Vocal Director
Giselle D’Souza- Choreographer
Rebecca Lopkin- Set/Costumel/LIghting Design
Dan Viola- Production Stage Manager
Amy Fogelman- Marketing Director